INTELLIGENCE/RUSSIA/SANCTIONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Under pressure to confront Russia, President Donald Trump’s administration placed more sanctions on Vladimir Putin’s government over a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy living in Britain. It’s the second round of sanctions over the 2018 attempt to kill former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal in the British town of Salisbury. Citing authority under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act, the new sanctions announced late Thursday prohibit a number of loans from American banks to Russia’s government, ‘except for loans or credits for the purpose of purchasing food or other agricultural commodities or products.’ Trump has said he wants better relations with Russia. Some lawmakers, however, believe he has been over indulgent with the country, especially in light of Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.”
–David Jackson, “Donald Trump sanctions Russia over nerve agent attack on former spy in Britain,” USA Today, August 2, 2019 10:07 am